Arts University Bournemouth and Bournemouth University students staged a protest calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza outside Bournemouth University’s Talbot Campus on Wednesday 29th November.
The protest was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Movement and the Socialist Worker Student Society as Israel broke the ceasefire.
Soup a 23-year-old Bournemouth local attended the protest said: “We want a real ceasefire. We want Palestinian emancipation.”
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health more than 200 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire started.
Soup mentioned one of the reasons why the protests has taken place is: “Only now that there is international pressure on Israel to stop their violent genocidal actions within the Gaza strip, we can’t lose that momentum.”
A ceasefire came into effect on October 10th but there have been multiple violations reported.
There has also been a significant increase in aid coming into Gaza since the ceasefire, but Israel has limited the number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza.
Soup urges students that want to show support to go to their local demonstrations as well as write to their local MP’s.
Last month Sir Keir Starmer announced the UK’s formal recognition of Palestine as a state.
This means that the UK government now calls the West Bank and Gaza “Palestine” instead of the “Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
Another way Soup mentioned people can show support is by donating money to organisations that work in Palestine such as UNICEF.
UNICEF has reported that one in four residents in Gaza are currently facing famine.
The organisation has aimed to carry out support through six key services, which includes treatment for malnutrition, repairing and enabling safe water systems for 1.5 million people and reuniting families.
UNICEF has also supported 7,200 children with mental health services as psychologists have reported that more than 80 percent of children in Gaza have shown signs of severe trauma.
Students that were protesting were seen shouting “Free Palestine” whilst also holding placards and flags in support of Palestinians.
One of the placards had: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” written on it.
Soup also said: “We need to come together not only as a national community but as an international community of students.”
There are more plans for protests to take place every couple weeks.
Numerous protests have also taken place for Gaza throughout Bournemouth earlier this year.
Additionally, Palestine Cinema Days will be at the Trouville Hotel showing a film about a Palestinian boy and his mum navigating life in a refugee camp on Sunday the second of November.
